Southampton publishes Green City Plan 2030

Southampton City Council has announced the publication of its Green City Plan 2030, which sets out an ambitious vision for a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable council.

With more than 60 specific actions delivered in the next three years, the council’s Green City Plan 2030 explains the principles it will apply, its priorities and the outcomes its wants to achieve over the next decade, whilst also outlining the progress that has already been made and how ongoing progress will be measured.

The plan commits to achieving net zero emissions in its commercial buildings by 2030, increasing the proportion of renewable energy generated and the proportion of zero and low emission vehicles used to 90 per cent by the same year. The council already plans for 100 per cent of bus routes to be serviced by clean air zone compliant vehicles by end of 2020 and all taxi and private hire fleet low emission or clean air zone compliant by 2023.

The council also targets sustainable trade, hoping for 15 per cent of journeys into the city to be by bike by 2027, and for Southampton to be in the top 10 per cent UK cities for number of public electric vehicle charging units by 2025.

Regarding the natural environment, the council is seeking for at least 25 new urban wildflower meadows to be introduced by 2025, and to increase city tree coverage by planting at least 5,000 trees in public land by 2030.

Christopher Hammond, leader of the council, said: “This generation inherited a legacy where human actions led to polluted air and lasting damage to our planet. It’s our task to reverse the impact caused, so we can pass on a healthier planet to the next generation. Southampton City Council will lead by example, set ourselves challenging goals and influence others to act.”